I am Oak

Over the course of six critically acclaimed studio albums, winning awards and playing shows all over the world, the music of I Am Oak has developed into a wide-ranging catalogue. From the modestly arranged debut album On Claws, through the brooding Nowhere or Tammensaari, to the sonic adventure of Osmosis, the songs and their poignant harmonies have evolved into a signature sound ranging from classic folk to eclectic (soft)rock. Most recently, Thijs Kuijken – the band’s singular songwriter – has revisited much of his rich repertoire in home recordings. Initially made for online broadcasting during the Covid-pandemic, some of these new and sparse recordings found their way onto a new double record: Odd Seeds. Its unique and surprising versions of old favourites (and a new track!) prove an ideal cross section of a remarkable oeuvre.

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Chima

A singer-songwriter, born in Japan. After releasing her first album “Suzuran” in 2011, she has released 6 solo albums and 3 picturebooks over the years. With her soft and soothing voice and electric guitar, she has gone on many journeys, performing all over Japan. She also composed theater music with film director Shunji Iwai and several anime theme songs. This year, she sang the theme song of G7 Hiroshima 2023.

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Kohei Kondo

Born in 1975 in Japan, Kohei Kondo is a painter based in Tokyo. He holds a Masters course from Tottori University, majoring in forestry. Later he taught himself painting. He is active in a variety of “painting” genres including live painting, clothing line branding, book sleeves, CD jackets and performing arts. He has held solo exhibitions in various locations across Japan, Taiwan,Thailand and the United States. He has provided designs for fashion brands, seasonal visuals at commercial facilities, CD jackets, and appeared on television.

During his live painting performances, he completes one painting per song and uses a video camera and a projector to let the audience experience the live painting. His paintings are influenced largely by two things: he expresses the feelings that he gets in nature and is inspired by a Japanese traditional aesthetic sense called ‘mitate’. For example, ancient Japanese viewed a rock in the garden as an island floating in the waves. Likewise, they have imaged the plum blossoms in association with the snow. He makes use of this kind of sensibility in his paintings. He brings ‘mitate’ into one universe and narrative, in a pattern that floats across the canvas.

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Tamara van Esch

Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Tamara van Esch composes and plays eclectic baroque indie folk/rock reminiscent of This is the Kit and Mitski. Tamara’s three previous albums under the moniker ‘Mevrouw Tamara’ were well received. She has played shows on Dutch national TV and radio, at prominent venues in the Netherlands and has toured in Italy, Belgium, Germany, Cyprus and Japan. With her record ‘Tussen Lagen’ she relays stories that are hopeful, inspired by interviews with psychologically vulnerable people, who participated in creating the lyrics and artwork. She’s currently working on a new record as her 200-year-old persona Gracie who lives in 2045, describing her past and future life experiences. Next to writing, playing and managing her own music, Tamara plays keys, guitar, percussion and sings in the live band of Blaudzun and is part of Render Ghosts (UK).

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